LOWER LIMB

Chapter 7

Pelvic (hip) Girdle

• Attaches the lower limb to the axial skeleton• Secured to the axial skeleton with the strongest

ligaments in the body

• Transmits full body weight of the upper limb to the lower limbs

• Supports the visceral organs of the pelvic region

• Lacks the mobility of the shoulder but is more stable

• Made of 7 bones: Sacrum, Ilium (2), ishium (2), Pubis (2)

• Known as the “os coxae”

• The “acetabulum” is the socket in which the head of the femur sits (hip joint)

Ilium

• Known as the flank and has wing like projections called “ala”

• When you rest your hands on your hips your are placing them on the “iliac crest” on each side

• The “iliac fossa” is on the medial surface of and is concave, has an ear like shape

Ischium

• Is the lower bone of the pelvic girdle

• It is “L” shaped

• Attaches to the ilium superiorly and the pubis anteriorly

Pubis

• Anterior portion of the hip bone

• Lies horizontally and the bladder rest upon it

• Joined together by the pubic symphysis – a fibrocartilage disc between the tow pubis bones

• Forms the pubic arch which is helpful in determining the gender of a skeleton• A larger arch indicates a female• A smaller arch indicates a male

LOWER LIMB

• The “thigh” is the region between the knee and the hip.

• Contains only one bone the “FEMUR”• It is the largest, longest and strongest bone in

the body• Articulates with the hip via a ball and socket

type joint• Articulates distally with the TIBIA via the

lateral and medial epicondyles

• Patella is a triangular sesamoid bone that articulates anteriorly with the femur and tibia

• Held in place the patellular ligament

LOWER LEG

• Region between the knee and the ankle

• Composed of two bones: Tibia (larger) & Fibula (smaller)

• Fibula is stick like and non weight bearing

• Tibia bears the weight of the body• Key features include medial and lateral condyles • Articulates with the femur and distally with the

medial malleolus

FOOT

• The tarsus consists of 7 tarsal bones that compose the posterior half of the foot

• The metarsus is very important for it is a weight bearing region that consists of 5 bones

• There are 14 phalanges the big toe is number 1 known as the “hallux”

• There are 3 arches of the foot: medial, lateral longitudinal and transverse connected by tendons and ligaments